Carlos Sainz makes Williams declaration after stunning Azerbaijan qualifying result

Carlos Sainz has declared that his stunning second on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix grid is proof he is "delivering in qualifying" after a relatively poor season. 

Sainz was on provisional pole in Baku with 3:41 on the clock after a second Q3 red flag after championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed, with rain in the air.

However, Max Verstappen roared to a first Baku pole of his own, with Sainz second on the grid, his best qualifying result for Williams since moving from Ferrari. 

The result is Williams' best since George Russell was second at the wet 2021 Belgian GP, and best for a driver in an actual race since Lance Stroll started second at the 2017 Italian GP. 

Sainz has been close to team-mate Alex Albon in qualifying this year, with an 8-8 head-to-head and 0.026s advantage to Albon, who crashed out in Q1, and will start last.

Reflecting, Sainz felt the result showed his qualifying prowess was not in doubt. 

"Honestly, we've nailed qualifying today, every time we were on the right tyre at the right time, and put together some very strong laps," Sainz explained.

"Obviously the top cars were going to put a lap together and we were going to be those four or five-tenths behind, but it was only one of them, which was Max, and for the rest, we managed to beat them, so we are P2 which is great news.

"I've been putting good laps together in qualifying, that hasn't been my weakness at all, and today, we proved the speed in this car and this team is there. I'm delivering in qualifying when it counts.

"The races and points are not going the way we want, and I'm not worried. 

"The plan for tomorrow is to try and stick it on the podium, I'm going to give it my best to give Williams a first podium. If it is possible, great, and if it is not, we will see."